In Bensalem, a significant development has taken place regarding the regulation of skills games. Officials seemingly gave the green light to a ban on these games at businesses lacking liquor licenses within the Bucks County community. However, local business owners are strongly opposing this ban. During a meeting of the Bensalem Township Council, a group of business owners presented a petition signed by over 200 people, aiming to persuade the township to reevaluate the ban. One representative from the group expressed a sense of fear that jobs might be at stake if the ban is implemented.Legal Battles and Ongoing Litigation
Township officials have taken a legal stance by filing a lawsuit in the hope of ending the ban. Councilmembers revealed that the suit was brought forward by several individuals, including the owner of a skill game operating company and an owner of a smoke shop in Bensalem. As the litigation is still in progress, the board has chosen not to provide further comments on the ordinance. This ban specifically targets businesses without an active Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board liquor license.
The October 2024 Ordinance
On October 27, 2024, the Bensalem Township Council adopted an ordinance that calls for the ban of local gaming devices, commonly known as skills games, throughout the community. In his statement supporting the ordinance, Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo pointed out that the use of skills games has been on the rise and there have been several criminal incidents linked to these machines in the past year. While businesses with a liquor license will be allowed to host such gaming machines, there will be strict rules. These businesses will be required to segregate the local gaming devices within a specific gaming area that can be monitored by employees and surveillance video, ensuring that minors cannot access them.
Penalties for Non-compliance
According to the ordinance, establishments that host these machines without the proper liquor license could face a fine of up to ,000, along with additional fees for each day of non-compliance with the new ordinance. This serves as a deterrent to ensure that businesses adhere to the regulations. The implementation of this ban and the associated penalties have sparked a heated debate among the local business community and officials alike. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what the ultimate outcome will be.
